Open spaces

MUCH of the play equipment in Thame?s recreation grounds is wearing out and will very soon have to be replaced at great expense to the town council.
Such was the conclusion of a report drawn up by the Open Spaces Working Group, set up by Thame Town Council to determine future budget requirements.
Chair of the Working Group, Cllr Nigel Champken-Woods, told a meeting of the Culture, Leisure and Recreation committee last night that his group found so much that needs doing to recreation area and equipment, that they have had to prioritise so that some affordable improvements could be carried out fairly quickly.
Number one of the list is the Memorial Garden, where the statue-centred fountain is soon to be reinstated, hopefully by May of next year, in time for the 60th anniversary of VE day.
The group?s second priority was Elms Park which Cllr Champken-Woods described as a much under-rated area of the town. He suggested that a self-help group of users might be formed to identify and make improvements to the area which, apparently, as such, could attract funding which is not available to town councils alone. He offered to get the ball rolling by painting the gates himself, perhaps with the help of one or two others.
The third priority area suggested by the Working Group was the Churchill Crescent play area which they said was deteriorating badly. The suggestion was made that, as derelict garages close by were soon to be demolished and replaced by dwellings, the play area could be moved to the centre of the grassed area.
Cllr David Laver told the meeting that he felt the whole profile of the multi-sports area of Elms Park should be raised and promoted.